What is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy called?

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy. During this process, plants use chlorophyll, the green pigment found in their leaves, to capture light energy from the sun. This energy is then used to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose, a type of sugar that serves as an energy source for the plant. Oxygen is produced as a byproduct of this reaction and is released into the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis is crucial not only for plants but also for all life on Earth, as it is the foundation of the food chain. Plants, being primary producers, provide energy that sustains herbivores and, subsequently, carnivores. Additionally, the oxygen released during photosynthesis is essential for the survival of most living organisms.

The processes mentioned in the other choices involve different functions: respiration is the process of breaking down glucose to release energy for the plant's own use, transpiration refers to the movement of water through plants and its evaporation from leaves, and fermentation is an anaerobic process used by some organisms to convert sugars into energy in the absence of oxygen. Therefore, photosynthesis stands out as the specific name for the light-driven conversion of solar energy into chemical energy in plants.